I always enjoy exploring the great Boston museums. Here are the best that I have found:
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Located at 25 Evans Way, this is a museum with more than 2,500 paintings and decorative art objects showcased in an historic mansion. The highlight to me is the recently opened 70,000 sq. ft. addition designed by well-known architect Renzo Piano. There is a new auditorium where you can hear music programs or attend lectures. It is well worth a visit while in Boston.
The Mary Baker Eddy Library: 200 Massachusetts Ave. Friends suggested that I visit the library which explores the life of Mary Baker Eddy, the religious leader, teacher and businesswoman. She founded Christian Science and started the Christian Science Monitor. I loved the Mapparium which is a three-story painted glass globe, from 1935, which showed the world map as it was when it was completed. I was so glad I added it to my itinerary. I enjoyed seeing the exhibits on Mary Baker Eddy’s life.
Museum of Fine Arts: 465 Huntington Ave. This museum has one of the best encyclopedic collections of art in the US with specialties in American, European and Contemporary Art, Photography, Prints and Drawings, Textiles, Musical Instruments and works from Asia, Africa and the Ancient World. It is not to be missed. I loved the works by Monet, Van Gogh, Manet, Matisse, Cezanne and Renoir. On my last trip, I really enjoyed the exhibition, Toulouse Lautrec and the Stars of Paris with many of his famous posters. Just a note, I found that when I was there in June, admission is free after 4pm on Wednesdays. There are a number of dining options. I really like The New American Cafe. A new fine dining restaurant, 465 Bar and Restaurant, opened in July, 2019.
Institute of Contemporary Art: Located at 100 Northern Ave., this is an interesting museum, with a contemporary art focus, on Boston’s Waterfront/Seaport District in a very modern building designed by award-winning architects Diller, Scofidion + Renfro and opened in 2006. You can see some of the Museum’s permanent collections which it started to collect beginning in 2000. There are also temporary exhibitions you can visit.
